Trackway for bicycle-riders or other performers.



No. 739,155. PAT-BNTED SEPT. 15, 1903. G. R GULVE R.

TRACKWAY FOR BICYCLE RIDERS OR OTHER PERFORMERS, APPLICATION 3-11.31) JAN. 3. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented September 15, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. OULVER, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HAROLD A. LEY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

' TRACKWAY FOR BICYCLE-RIDERS OR OTHER PERFORMERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 739,155, dated September 15, 1903.

' Application filed January 3, 1903. Serial No. 137,639. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES R. CULvER, a citizen'of the United States of America, and a resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State'of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trackways for Bicycle-Riders or other Performers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an amusement apparatus in' which a ,loop-the-loop act may be performed by the rider of a vehicle, preferably such as a bicycle; and the same consists in the constructions and arrangements or combinations of parts, as is hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a looped trackway, showing a bicycle'in runningengagement therewith and'a rider thereon. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a portion of the trackway as taken at the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a roller-supporting frame, which is suspended from rigid con-" side sections 1) b, and inturned narrow flanges d d, parallel with and separated from the.

tread-section. V V

The bicycle B to run on the trackway has rigidly secured to and depending below the middle of the frame thereof the bar or leg 0, at the bottom of which is formed or rigidly affixed the frame D, having journaled thereon one or more pairs of rollers ff, rotatable in vertical parallel planes and adapted 'to' have rolling engagements on and between the tread-section a and the innersurface of the flanges d d or the trackway, so that even while the bicycle may be running around a looped portion or along an inverted portion of the trackway the bicycle may by the main wheels thereof have tractional bearing on the track-tread, as retained thereto by the engaging parts mentioned. The said frame D also has journaled thereon for rotation in horizontal planes the rollers g g, which engage -by their peripheries on the inner surfaces of the track sides I) b. v

As shown, the trackway in its course from end to end comprises the elevated horizontal portion 1; for the start, the downwardly-inclined portion w, in which to acquire momentum, the loop :20, at which the bicycle may be brought toan overturned position with the rider thereon, and the inverted extension y, along which the performer may ride head downward. The extension y is shown as terminating in proximity to suspension means for a receptacle G, such as a bag or net, into which the rider in running off from the open end of the track extension may plunge, and said receptacle is shown as hung at the end portion of the roped, which is guided over the sheaves jj of the elevated support It and has at its other end the counterweight m.

end of the track-terminal, it being understood that the forcev of the rider and the ve- 'hicle in coming into the bag will break the tie and leave the bag free to be'swnng away from the proximity to the track, and the rider in the bag will slowly settle toward the ground or floor against the resistance of the counterweight, which will yield thereto comparatively quickly or slowly, corresponding to the number of weight-sections used.

Of course it is apparent that this apparatus a is susceptible of considerable range of variation, especially in respect of the extent and opposite side trucks rotatable in vertical planes and engaging with rolling bearings between the flange and tread portions at the opposite sides of the trackway, and said suspended frame also having rollers rotatable in a horizontal plane and having rolling bearings on the inner surfaces of the track side sections.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a trackway cross-sectionally of trough form having inturned flanges projecting from the sides, separated from the base or tread portion, and in its lengthwise course comprising an incline and a loop whercby a portion of the length of the track is inverted of a bicycle to run on said track, having a bar secured to and depending below the frame thereof and having aflixed to the bottom of the bar,a horizontal support provided with opposite side trucks rotatable in vertical planes and engaging with rolling bearings between the flange and tread portions at the opposite sides of the trackway.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a trackway having the cross-sectional trough form with inturned flanges as described, aud as to its length comprising an elevated portion, and a downwardly-inclined portion continued in a loop further extended in an inverted portion, combined with a bicycle to run on the trackway having carried rigidly below the frame a support having rollers engaging within the opposite flanged portions of the trackway.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a trackway having the cross-sectional trough form with inturned flanges, as described, and as to its length comprising an elevated portion, and a downwardly-inclined portion continued in a loop further extended in an inverted portion combined with a bicycle to run on the trackway having carried rigidly below the frame a support having rollers engaging within the opposite flange portions of the trackway, and a receptacle into proximity to which the trackway terminates.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a trackway cross-sectionally of trough form having the inturned opposite flanges, and comprising in its length a downwardly-inclined portion, a loop continuation and an inverted extension, a receptacle adjacent the open end of the trackway, a support from which the same is suspended, an easily-severed tie device, holding said receptacle near the end of the track and abicyale to run on the track having a rigid suspension-support provided with rollers engaging within the opposite flanged sides of the track.

0. In an apparatus of the character 'described, in combinatioma trackway, cross-sectionally of trough form having the inturned opposite flanges and comprising in its length a downwardly-inclined portion, a loop continuation and an inverted extension, a bag adjacent the open end of the trackway, a cord from one end of which the same is suspended, intermediate guiding-sheaves for the cord and a counterweight therefor, and a bicycle to run on the track having a rigid suspension-support provided with rollers engaging within the opposite flanged sides of the track.

Signed by me at Springfield, Massachusetts, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES R. CULVER.

Witnesses:

WM. S. BELLoWs, A. V. LEAHY. 

